SAT and ACT

JTHHS College Board Test Code: 344348

Standardized Test Information

It’s important to check the college catalogs or websites of the schools to which you are applying to determine which standardized test (s) you need to take. Most colleges and universities will accept either test for admission, but check to be sure. Students should take SAT or ACT plus writing at the end of the junior year and again early in the fall of the senior year.

General Timeline for SAT and ACT

9th Grade - Students usually do not take any tests beyond class exams in this grade. *

10th Grade - All 10th graders in NC schools take the PLAN (pre-ACT) in October of their 10th grade year.

11th Grade - During 11th grade the PSAT is a qualifier for the National Merit Scholarship. Students must elect to take this exam in October of 11th grade, and need to register with their school in August or September.

Spring of 11th grade is the recommended time to take the SAT and ACT for the first time.** Students must register to take the SAT (fee waivers available for qualifying students), but the ACT is given in February to all 11th grade students during school hours.

May or June is a good time to take any SAT Subject tests, if it is on the heels of an AP Course, so the material is still fresh.

It is recommended students choose either the SAT or ACT, use results from the first time to study over a period of time, and either take it again in June or in September/October of 12th grade year.***

12th Grade - Students can take the SAT or ACT again. Taking the September or October test is early enough to ensure scores reach colleges before October 15 early action deadlines. For later test dates, students will need to check with college admissions offices to make sure scores arrive in time for decisions.

*Parents my elect for their students to take these tests at any time. Also, some programs, like the NC School of Science and Math, require scores for admissions purposes.

**Waiting until 11th grade to take the tests is recommended so students have time to develop English and Math skills comparable with what is being assessed.

***Research shows that taking either test back to back, or more than three times, yields little to no improvement, and tends to stress the student.

SATThe SAT I measures verbal and mathematics ability along with writing skills. It is a test that predicts college performance.The SAT II measures performance in specific subjects. Some highly competitive colleges require SAT II tests for placement and/or admission; again, check each school to be certain (NC State and UNC Chapel Hill require SAT II math for placement). SAT II tests should be taken immediately upon completing the course, regardless of when the course was taken.

Important SAT Note: The SAT test changed as of March 2016. Any "old" SAT test taken before March of 2016 cannot be "super scored" with any "new" SAT test. Most colleges will combine the highest scores per section from any test you've taken, but they cannot combine the new and old tests since it will be a different scoring system. Check out their website for more information on how the SAT is changing.

ACTThe ACT measures educational development I English, math, reading, and science and it is a test that predicts freshman year of college performance. Be sure to take the ACT plus writing for any North Carolina college or university and check with the out of state schools to see which test is required. Please check each website for an updated fee schedule. Please check with your counselor if you feel you qualify for a fee waiver.Note: Wake Forest University does not require the SAT/ACT for admission, however the admissions department would like to have the scores for statistical purposes after the student is admitted.

PSAT/NMSQTis open to all 10th and 11th grade students and is the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying test for juniors. This exam is the practice exam for the SAT I. The PSAT will be given October 24,2018

By taking the Psat/Nmsqt, you may qualify to enter the competitions for prestigious scholarships and participate in recognition programs.

Practice test sections It may be helpful to practice critical reading or math sections before tackling an entire test. Though these three sites don’t offer full-length practice tests, they do havecomplete practice sections, strategies, advice and vocab.

• vocabtest.com : Free online vocabulary workshops cover all levels of words. This is a great site to increase your vocabulary comprehension.

Test resources If you are in need of deft advice on how to take these tests, turn to:• ePrep.com : Launched in spring 2006, ePrep.com is an extension of Karl Schellscheidt’s private tutoring practice. The site now includes test prep and college admission advice. The unique interactive format of ePrep.com allows videos to be downloaded to iPods or other devices.

SAT Prep/AP Exam CFNC.org now offers comprehensive FREE test prep courses for the SAT, ACT, and GRE. CFNC Test Prep features easy-to-use tutorials, interactive practice sessions that dynamically adapt to each student’s ability level, and a vocabulary builder that contains 2,000 words. Whether you have a week or a year until the test, this section of the site will help you to reinforce your academic skills and build your confidence as you approach test day. NOTE: These courses are self-paced, non-teacher led courses.For information on SAT Prep, visit the College Foundation of North Carolina. (you will need to set up an account if you currently do not have an account)